Doctor who gave data to 'Liveline' not allowed to practise

A DOCTOR who emailed photographs and personal medical information about one of his patients to RTÉ’s Liveline has had his registration cancelled by the Irish Medical Council.

Hungarian consultant anaesthetist Dr Laszlo Ruscsak, who worked at Haven Cosmetics in Stillorgan, Dublin, had been found guilty by the council’s fitness-to-practise committee last year.

In recent weeks the council announced its decision to cancel his registration.

Dr Ruscsak had arranged for patient Lucia Dowd to have a gastric band operation in Hungary in October 2009. However, at the fitness-to-practise inquiry last year it was alleged that he failed to provide her with satisfactory aftercare.

Ms Dowd had contacted Liveline in September 2010 using a pseudonym when she heard a discussion about Dr Ruscsak, after another patient rang in to complain about him.

The doctor then emailed RTÉ photos and medical details of Ms Dowd, the hearing was told.

Dr Ruscsak did not attend the hearing. He will not be able to practise in Ireland as medical doctors must be on the register.

The council also announced in recent weeks its decision to suspend for six months a doctor accused of sending inappropriate texts and emails to female colleagues.

Dr Oladele Olajide Onada, Freshford Road, Kilkenny, was found guilty of three allegations of professional misconduct and one allegation of poor professional performance at a hearing in February last.

He had worked as a senior house officer at University College Hospital Galway in 2010 and 2011 but was dismissed after disciplinary meetings.

The fitness-to-practise committee described the communications by Dr Onada as “disgraceful and dishonourable”. It also found he had failed to answer or respond adequately to hospital pagers on four dates in 2010 and 2011.

The council will attach conditions to his name in the register of medical practitioners.

The council also released its decision to attach conditions to the registration of a doctor found guilty of poor professional performance over his inability to perform basic clinical functions.

Nigerian doctor Alabi Emmanuel Gbaedbo, Co Cork, had his contract terminated after five weeks as a senior house officer in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

It emerged within days that Dr Alabi had difficulties with suturing, cannulas and other basic procedures, and he displayed problems with note-taking and writing prescriptions, the inquiry was told. However, no incident arose where a patient came to harm.